News

Days after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced deadlines for providers to begin displaying Broadband Consumer Labels, Google Fiber, or GFiber, has announced the launch of ‘nutrition labels’ for residential 1 Gig, 2 Gig, 5 Gig, and 8 Gig products.

A blog post from Google Fiber, published Oct. 12, said the labels, which have been compared in appearance to nutrition labels required by the Food and Drug Administration, will be “some of the first to roll out anywhere.”

“The labels clearly show customers what they can expect when it comes to speed, price, and any fees that might apply, along with information regarding data caps and contracts,” wrote Ariane Schaffer, a government affairs and public policy manager with Google.

On Oct. 11, the FCC announced deadlines for broadband consumer labeling to begin appearing on equipment, with the majority of providers required to display the label by April 10, 2024. Providers with 100,000 or fewer subscriber lines must do so by October 10, 2024.

“For too long, our industry has hidden behind fees and pricing tactics that made it difficult for people to truly compare their internet options,” Schaffer said. “Labels like these allow customers to understand what they are paying and what’s included — and what’s not — in that price.”

The FCC adopted the Broadband Label Order in 2022. The order established new rules requiring broadband internet service providers to display labels at the point of sale that discloses information about broadband prices, introductory rates, data allowances, and broadband speeds.

The labels will also be required include links to information about network management practices, privacy policies, and the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, according to the FCC’s website.